Aker Yards strengthens its position as the preferred arctic shipbuilder

Aker Yards has signed a contract with the large Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel for delivery of four container/cargo ships for arctic operations, with an option for a fifth newbuilding. This order of Aker Yards’ Business Area Merchant Vessels has a total value of approximately EUR 320 million for four vessels and follows Norilsk Nickel’s recent deployment of the first vessel of this type, MS Norilskiy Nickel. The newly contracted vessels are scheduled for delivery by Aker Yards’ German shipyards from the third quarter of 2008 through the first quarter of 2009.